School Info for Americans moving to Rota

School Opportunities

On Base:

            Like most bases, Naval Station Rota has a DoD school on base with certified American teachers, and classes taught in English. The school, David Glasgow Farragut, has classes for Kindergarten-High School students, as well as a Sure Start program for 4 year olds. Enrollment is available for any military or DoD dependents. Tuition is free to military dependents, but there will may be a charge for DoD families. Whether you live on or off base, bus routes may be available. DoD education standards are followed, and students will take standardized tests that are offered in any other American public school. The only slight difference to an American school is that Spanish culture classes are offered once a week for all grade levels, and Spanish language lessons are taught every day. A variety of athletic activities and clubs are available for students of different ages and interests. To apply, you will need your military orders or DoD form 803 showing family members that are command-sponsored. You will also need the sponsor’s military I.D., command address, child’s birth certificate, updated shot records, and current records or transcripts from their previous school. To learn more about the school or the enrollment process, contact the School Liaison Officer.

            For children ages 3-5, there is a Spanish Immersion program offered at the base CDC (Child Development Center) in the mornings. This is a class for American students, and adheres to DoD and CDC standards for curriculum goals. The teachers are native Spaniards and speak to the children in a mixture of both languages, so they become comfortable with the language and learn basic vocabulary. Tuition at the CDC is charged based on rank and LES.

Information about the base Elementary School is available at their website:

http://www.rota-es.eu.dodea.edu/.

The Middle and High Schools, which are located in the same complex, have their own website:

http://www.rota-hs.eu.dodea.edu/.

Off Base:

            American families are also allowed to attend local Spanish schools, and here there are a variety of choices. Spanish public schools will accept American students if they have space in their classrooms. Children age 3 and up are eligible to attend Spanish public school full-time. Enrollment is free, and you pay only a small annual fee that covers the cost of books and supplies. There is a ‘lottery’ process that begins in March for the upcoming school year. While you can make a wish list of schools you prefer to attend, ultimately you will be assigned a school based on geographic location and availability. If you live off base, your children are eligible to attend school anywhere in their town. If you live on base, there is a dividing line for base housing to attend either Rota or Puerto schools. Americans must register the student at the town hall, and complete application forms (in Spanish) to submit to the school. School administrators typically speak only Spanish, and classroom teachers will typically not know any English, so parents wishing to enroll in Spanish schools should have a certain ability to speak Spanish, or have a friend to help them translate through the process. Public schools in Spain still teach religion (Catholic), although you can opt out of this if you choose. To learn more about the Spanish school enrollment process, contact the School Liaison Officer. They can provide the applications, and help you translate the initial forms.

            There are also Spanish private schools, as well as guadarias—daycare centers. These charge monthly tuitions that vary greatly. Private schools are sometimes sponsored by churches, private organizations, or occasionally by the government. Most teach Catholic religion, and offer some opportunities that are not available in public schools, like bi-lingual classroom instruction, or additional extracurricular activities. Private schools offer a little more flexibility with schedule, allowing you to pick up a child early or drop off late, for doctor appointments or other reasons. At public schools, the gates are locked throughout the day, so drop off and pick up can only occur at specific times.

            Spanish school days typically run from 9am-2 pm, at which point children return home for lunch and siesta. Drop off and pick up is only possible at those times, because afterwards the school gates will be locked. Lunch is not usually served at school, but there is a snack period, so most American families simply pack a lunch that can be eaten during snack time. Spanish children begin full-day school at age 3. Before that they attend guardarias, which are more like daycares with hourly rates. Teachers and most classmates will of course speak Spanish, though often there will be at least 1 other American student in the class. American children typically learn Spanish very quickly and easily, especially at a young age. The first month is a difficult transition. Some families love the opportunity to attend Spanish school and learn the language (for free!). Learning another language at any age can enhance brain development and improve numerous educational areas. Other families report dissatisfaction with the student’s adjustment, the way Americans are treated in the classroom, or the general standards of Spanish education.

            Spanish schools differ from American schools in a few key areas. First, of course the holiday schedule is based only on Spanish national holidays, which do not always align with American holidays. Secondly, the student to teacher ratio is much higher, (typically only 1 teacher, with no assistant, for a class of up to 30 kids) so even younger children will not receive personal attention or assistance with anything. Next, the educational material for each grade level does not compare precisely to American standard schedules, so when transferring from a Spanish school back to an American school, a student may or may not need tutoring to be caught up to other classmates. This becomes more of an issue in older grades. Finally, Spanish students are typically more physical and play rougher than is allowed at American schools. This is partly a cultural difference in the value of kids working out their own problems, but there are also occasional examples of Americans being picked on or targeted because they are different from all their classmates. So no one can tell you whether or not Spanish school will be best for your child. Some people have wonderful experiences; others have a terrible one. Do the research, ask questions, and make the decision for yourself based on your own child’s needs and priorities.

Higher Level Education:

            This is an excellent duty station for adults to complete higher level education and earn a degree. Through the Navy College Office, military personnel, civilians, and dependents are able to earn a high school diploma equivalency through the GED exam, a vocational/technical certificate, or even a college degree. There are four accredited schools and universities represented on the base: Central Texas College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Maryland University College, and the University of Oklahoma. The four institutions of higher education are members of the Servicemembers Opportunity College, which can make it easier for students to complete degree requirements as they change duty stations. Most offer classes online, but there are some classes offered in person, as well. Keep in mind that certain degrees requiring hands-on labs or experience will be harder to take at this duty station. Financial assistance is currently available with Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits or Navy Tuition Assistance. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has initiated a Spousal Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) available only to military spouses overseas. For more information on this particular program, contact the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

 

The above info is an excerpt from the book 'Welcome to Rota' by Lizann Lightfoot.